Mandatory evacuation in place around Stolthaven Chemical Plant

Police say rail cars may contain explosives

A mandatory evacuation is in effect near the Stolthaven facility in Plaquemines Parish as crews try to asses possible combustible materials in rail cars.

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Mandatory evacuation in place around Stolthaven Chemical Plant

Police say rail cars may contain explosives

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Updated: 6:37 PM CDT Sep 10, 2012

BRAITHWAITE, La. —

A mandatory evacuation order is in effect for parts of Braithwaite on Monday night because State Police say rail cars from a chemical plant may contain explosive materials.

This is causing a problem for residents who want to assess damage from Hurricane Isaac.

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Hazmat crews have been working at the Stolthaven Chemical facility and are expected to be there days longer. The rail cars have been moved as a precaution because there is a chance they could combust.

"You got a lot of angry people who can't get back to their homes," said Billy Nungesser.

Parish and state authorities said they feel the frustrations of Braithwaite residents.

"This is a community that's taken a blow by the storm, and here's another blow where they can't get back in because of a hazmat incident" said Capt. Doug Cain.

The East bank of Plaquemines Parish near the Stolthaven Chemical facility is still under a mandatory evacuation order and Louisiana 39 has been closed to traffic. State police say it's a safety precaution as crews right 140 rail cars there -- 84 of which contain hazmat material.

"We've got to go through and assess each car then have it removed, then assess it again and then move it out," said Cain.

"The second challenge is checking storage tanks moved from their foundation by Hurricane Isaac," Cain continued. "And the third challenge is some of the tanks that remain in place lost the ability to chill and turn the product inside. Some of that product has to be at a safe temperature. If it's not being cooled down or if it's not being turned -- it can become a safety hazard."

The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality is conducting air tests round the clock, while the crews work.

"We have a person there who has an air-monitoring device, and that would alarm if something was released," said the DEQ's Pete Ricca.

DEQ said they have seen no effect outside the plant, and investigators are still assessing inside the plant.

"We are in the process of conducting water sampling. Once it gets more dry out there we expect to get a plan this afternoon to do some soil sampling. That will give us a better view of what's going on out there," said Ricca.

Residents will be allowed to return to their homes from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday. But the evacuation order remains in place indefinitely and the road closure as well.

Officials said it could be days or a week before the work is done. Residents can enter Braithwaite on the other end from the Belle Chasse Ferry, but will be stopped a half mile from Stolthaven.